Sitting on the ground, she looked up at her best friend. "Danke," she said. "Thank you."

Rudy bowed. "My pleasure." He tried for a little more. "No point asking if I get a kiss for that, I guess?"

"For bringing my shoes, which you left behind?"

"Fair enough." He held up his hands and continued speaking as they walked on, and Liesel made a concerted effort to ignore him. She only heard the last part. "Probably wouldn't want to kiss you anyway -- not if your breath's anything like your shoes."

"You disgust me," she informed him, and she hoped he couldn't see the escaped beginnings of a smile that had fallen from her mouth.

Author: Markus Zusak